My third appointment with Dr. Ellis was on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Once again I got to experience the gleaming, provocatively curvaceous, metal and glass building at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital known as the Comprehensive Cancer Center. Despite the foreboding name, It doesn't hold the same trepidation for me as I'm sure it does for others. If fact, it may never if my prognosis remains the same. I can't begin to imagine what demons some cancer patients bring into this building dedicated to the demise of the disease but I'm glad it is here.
My lab appointment was for 9:00 a.m. and my doc appointment for 9:30 a.m. At 10:00 a.m., after an obligatory delay, as imposed by the take-a-number and wait-to-be-called registration system, I gave up 10 vials of blood, three of which were for WFBH and seven for the LGLL Registry. I expect to receive a complimentary membership in the Transylvania Planned Giving Program soon. The nurse who did the blood draw wasn't overly friendly but that regressive personality trait was easily compensated for by her gentle touch with the needle. I'll take a sour disposition and gentle needle stick any day over someone who is ebullient but clumsy. The efficiency with which this place works was confirmed when the nurse called me back to the examining room while I was still getting my blood drawn. Upon my return to the lab waiting area I was immediately whisked off to the examination area.
I was first attended by Lauren Imboden, an affable and pleasant young physician's assistant who poked and prodded me to insure I didn't have any swollen lymph nodes or spleen. As it turns out I did not - good news! She asked general questions about how I was feeling to which I gave positive answers but stated that I have been enjoying naps more lately. After a brief discussion about my marginally low red blood cell count, we agreed that my slight lethargy may be because of my under-active thyroid which my primary doc is working to remedy.
Dr, Ellis was in good spirits this morning. She was downright relaxed, cheerful and, in a manner of speaking, charming. Since I was sitting in one of the side chairs and Mari Jo in the other, she hopped up on the examination table with legs dangling and started the discussion. The entire time Dr. Ellis was speaking with me she was moving both her lower legs back and forth in an opposing manner, almost like trying to click her heels together. Maybe we've just gotten our chemistry down by now or maybe she simply enjoys seeing someone who is still healthy and not going through treatment. Maybe I'm the highlight of her day in some odd way because she knows I'm not going to die on her watch. If the dark side of her occupation is morbidity the light side is vitality and I can provide her with that in spades. We had some of the same conversation I previously had with the PA and told her about seeing a new primary care physician, Neil Sparks, recently. (Stay tuned on that front. Since I've only been to see him once I'm not going to jump to any conclusions about how that relationship will turn out.) Since I was called back to the examination room so soon after my blood was drawn, the complete blood-work wasn't completed during my visit with Dr. Ellis.
My complete blood analysis came back the following day. My lymphocyte count increased to 7200, up from 5200 back in January. Through an email exchange, Dr. Ellis and I agreed that this was possibly the result of an immune response to 10 yellow jacket stings the week before. (I moved over a nest of those buggers and they chose to attack my lower extremities en-masse. I couldn't run fast enough or brush them off my feet and legs quickly enough.) The relative percentage of lymphocytes increased to 62%, both the highest numbers I've ever posted and far outside of any acceptable range I've ever found. Despite that, my neutrophil count remains within the healthy range at 3500 and 30%. RBC is still marginally low, right at the threshold of anemia.
I'm scheduled for another CBC in October and CBC with visit in January.
About Me
- Wayne Turner
- I was born, raised and went to school in eastern NC. Too immature at 17 to comprehend the seriousness of university life, I dropped out after two years and joined the Air Force. I spent two years of my four year military career in Germany, which I enjoyed immensely. I completed my Bachelor's Degree at Guilford College in 1985. My first career was in the computer field where I did everything short of design one. I've spent the last 30 years in the environmental field working for local governments. In December 2017 I retired from full time work. My overdeveloped sense of fairness and justice lands me on the liberal side in my political views. I think government plays a large role in social responsibility in a civilized state. I believe in the innate compassion and goodness in everyone despite the daily news reports to the contrary. My genetic predisposition for generosity in nearly all things is sometimes a source of future angst. I've been a musician and still have a deep love of music. I am naturally curious about all things especially metaphysics and science.
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